Change in the way that heath care is delivered in local areas is inevitable as various innovative proposals are brought on line.
NHS North West is committed to providing the best possible care in the safest, most effective and convenient environment for everyone. This means ensuring that the people using the services have an input.
Any substantial changes are governed by the National Health Service Act 2006 (Sections 244 and 242):
• Section 244: requires local health organizations (the SHA, NHS trusts, foundation trusts and primary care trusts) to request the appropriate local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny committee to review and scrutinise the proposals
• Section 242: requires local health organisations to engage directly with the public, patients, staff and all those interested, in the planning, development, consultation and decision making on the proposals.
NHS North West has an assurance and oversight role in relation to proposals by local commissioners to reconfigure NHS services. Proposals for service change have to be reviewed and approved prior to public consultation - this includes a review by the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT).
Current major service reconfigurations across the North West
Making It Better
Making It Better is a reconfiguration of services for women, children, young people and babies in Greater Manchester. Implementation of this scheme is currently being monitored by the Board.
View a copy of the monitoring report here.
Greater Manchester West Older Adult Mental Health – these proposals by commissioners and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust are to consolidate older adult in-patient beds in Bolton and Salford - currently six wards on three sites – to four wards on two sites. The proposed services have been approved by the SHA to proceed to implementation subject to the caveats outlined in the report.
View the SHA report in relation to the 4 tests
View the NCAT report
Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review - these proposals are put forward by commissioners in Cheshire and Merseyside to reconfigure vascular services, specifically to centralise complex and emergency vascular surgery at the Countess of Chester and at the Royal Liverpool hospitals. The proposals have been approved to proceed to public consultation subject to the caveats outlined in the report.
View the SHA report in relation to the 4 tests
View the NCAT report